His nickname is Izzy, but he's a Quade at heart: Bulls unearth another attacking gem in Novuka

Given the rugby pedigree of the former Wallabies star as well as the baggage he carries in terms of his religious views, it might not be easy for Sibongile Novuka to be the Bulls' "Izzy".

Yet the softy-spoken 25-year-old fullback cum winger is undeniably doing his utmost to deliver glimpses of that brand of magic when he pulls the blue jersey over his head.

Plucked from relative obscurity in the Varsity Shield, where he starred for the UKZN Impi, on the back of a glowing recommendation from former Bulls and Bok winger Akona Ndungane, Novuka has steadily made his mark in a position oozing class and talent at Loftus.

A fortnight ago, he was instrumental in confirming the Bulls' steady recovery in the Currie Cup with a hat-trick in Durban.

Thrust into service - following a six-month lay-off with a pectoral muscle injury - with several other more fringe options for the franchise's first ever Champions Cup game - a Loftus affair against Lyon - Novuka opened the scoring by skinning no less than five defenders after throwing an initial dummy.

And then there was THAT soccer-like flick forward for Wandi Simelane's try against the Lions last month, a sublime piece of skill where he wriggled his way in between two defenders and use his lanky legs to chip the ball around Edwill van der Merwe's hip to set up the score.

This is outrageous skill pic.twitter.com/vmikJaJ7g5

It's little wonder Lumumba Currie, Novuka's coach at the University of Fort Hare and Border Academy and this week appointed the Junior Springboks' assistant, anointed him his nickname.

"It was when I went for Craven Week trails in Grade 11," said the rising Bulls star, a strapping fellow at 1.92m and 97kg.

"I was playing very well and I was tall. So the coach at the time told